Steam trap



Jan. 3l, 1928.

1,657,679 M. KNuDsTR-UP STEAM TRAP i Filed Sept. 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1928. v 1,657,679

M. KNUDSTRUP STEAM TRAP Filed Sept. 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 V6 M mummy il t) Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

amarrar-v KN'UDSTRU'P, orl sT. CLAIR,- MICHIGAN.

STEAM TRAP.

Application filed September This invention relates to steam traps and particularly to devices of this character designed for use inz steam systems, oil separators, ccndensers and vacuum systems to collectthe water of condensation from the system, and to periodically return the water under pressure tol the boiler, or other point of delivery. Y A

The invention yhas also among its objects to simplify, render more etlicient, and improvergcnerally devices ofthis character, and these as well as other'objects, advantagesyand novel-details of construction, will be mademoreapparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withi't'he accompanying drawings, wherein one illustrative embodiment of the inventionY is shown, and wherein Fig. 1 is' a side elevation of a" steam trap constructed` in accordance with this inventiony i Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation with certain parts eliminated for the sake of clearness, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan `view. p

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like reference' characters indicate like parts, it'will be noted that there is illustrated a tank)V within' which there is arranged a float 1() provided with, springs 11A for cushioning the float when it engages the sides of the tank; This float is connected by means of a rod 1-2 to a shaft 13 extending transverselyotV the tank 9 at one end thereof. The shaft is rotatably7 journaled in theend of the tank and extends outwardly through the walls thereof and through stuftingboxes 14. One extended-end of s haft 13 is iournaled in arm 15,-and to this end of shaft 13 there is connected for rotation therewith an arm 16. l

Arrangedat one side of tank 9 is a Supporting platform 17 secured in place preferably by means of brackets 18. Carried upon this supporting platform is a plurality of guide members 19 and reciprocably mounted in these guides-19 is a' reciprocatingmember 20. This reciprocating member comprises a rounded rodp ortionl 21- upon .whichV a sleeve member 22 isi slidably ar ranged, this sleeve beingpivotally connected as at 23 by means of a link 24 to arm 16. The movement of sleeve 22 on rod 21 is opposed in both directions by means of springs 25 and 26 which surround rod 21 and engage sleeve 22 at both ends thereof and bear with their 14, 1925.I serial no. 56,363. i

other ends against collars 27 adjustably fixed on Vthe rod 21 by means of set screws 28.

AThe section 29 of the reciprocal member 20 is formed with a plurality,= here shown as two, depressions or recesses`30 and 31 spaced longitudinally ot the reciprocal-member as clearly shown in Fig.` 1. The section 29 is also formed, adjacentdepressions 30 and31, with shouldersorabutments 29L A pin- 32 carried bv an-,arm 33 pivoted as at 34 to an upright 35,is adaptedto'abut shoulders 29v and enter either ot ,the depressions 30 or 31 upon a shitting/ot the reciprocal member` 20 to either of-its posit-ions. 1 The arm 33 is normally urged into aposit-ion in whichv the pin 32 rests in either ofthe depressions 30 or 31- byfmeans of a. weight.V 36 carried by the endbf this arm. y

'lheijreciprocal member 2O is pivotally conneeted as at 37 toa link 385fwhichinA turn is connected to a link 39 pivotally connecty ed as at 40 to the operating arms 41 of valves 42and 43 arranged respectively in thesteam inletand steam vent pipes 44 and 45.` The condensate inlet pipe ismindicated by the reference character 1S-,otherV condensate escaping from the-trap through'outletfpipe47. Check valves 48 arranged in these condensate intake and dischargeQlines permit an accumulationin the tank; of the condensate, inthe customary manner. 'if

InA operation, it the tgink) contains no condensate the float 10 will be substantially in the position illustrated in-Fig. 1, inwhich position-the valve` 43 in the steam vent line 451s opened whilethe valve 42 inthe steam intake line is closed. VWhen condensate accumulates in tank 9 by entering through condensate intakeline 46, float 10 will' rise', this movement rotating shaftl 13 and conse'- quently rocking arm 16, which through the medium of link-24 moves sleeve 22 longitudinally along the section-21 of the/reciprocating member 20V ina" direction to compress spring- 25. /Vhen spring 25 has been com pressed to its limit reciprocable member 20 will be moved-Lto the left, as seen in Fig.' 1, the; pin 32- on weighted'arm 33 moving out ot the roundeddepression- 30 andL dropping into depressie-n311AV This movement-of reciprocablejmember 20, through the-mediumf of links-38 and 39, simultaneously operates valves 42 and 43, whereby valve 42 in the steam inlet line is opened while valve 43 in the steam outlet lineis closed.

Steam is thus admitted to tank 9 whereliability of the valves being' insu point at upon a steziin pressure is accumulated on the top surface of the condensate in the tank 9, causing it to pass out through the check valve 48 in the condensate discharge line 47. llf'hen the accumulated condensate has all been discharged float 10 will again assume, the position illustrated in Fig. l, whereupon spring 26 will be compressed by the movement of sleeve 22 to shift reciprocable member 20 to the right, as seen in Fig. 1, Whereupon pin 32 will be caused to again repose in depression 30. As the condensate again accumulates in tank 9 the c vcle of operations just describedtwill be repeated. The springslll associated with the float l() form a' cushioning-means to minimize any shocksA toV the apparatusv caused bytheengagement of th'elfioat with the sidesfoftank The Weighted" arm 33 carrying locking pin* 32 cooperates 'Wit-h theUdepressio'ns in reciprocable-member 20 to hold this 'member in either of its positions While the movement of iioat'lO is accumulating sufficient 'power in either of springs 251-01 y2G-to shift the reciprocable member. The movement of reciprocable member 20 as limited and controlled by locking pin 32, is sufficient, Vthrough the medium of links-38 and 39, to fu'llfmove valves 42' and 43 from open and closed position to closed' andop'en position respectively' and viceversa. Conseuentlg 'ciently operated and`1je1n'ai1iing` at intermediate positions is eliminated2- By providing the adjustable collars `27 with" set's'crevvs 28 the Whichreciprocable member 20 will beshifted may be governed by regulating the tension on springs 25A and 26.

The apparatus' herein described not' only affords an eiiieient means for periodically forcibli7 expelling the accumulations ofcoudensate but accomplishes this in a simple and eilicient manner. Y The operative mechanism of the device Ais conveniently accessible, adjustable and easily assembled, and eliminates theuse of trunnions. v

While one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated somewhat in detail` it will be immediately apparent that various modifications may be resorted toivithout departing from the spiritand scope of this invention, and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as may come Within the'purview of the accompanying claims. o

- That I claim as my invention is: A

1.`-In a steam'trap, a tank provided with a condensate inlet and outlet, valved steam inlet and outlet pipes,a ioat in said tankfresponsive to therise and fall of the condensate accumulated therein, means including a reciprocable member connecting said float to said valves toroperating the latter, said membergbeing formed vvlth longitudinally spaced recesses adjacent one end and a gravity actuated latch member, engageable in said recesses` for arresting and locking said reciprocable member.

2. In a steam trap, a tank `provided with a condensate inlet and outlet, valved steam inletA and outlet pipes, a iioat in said tank responsive to the rise and fall "of the condensate accumulated therein, means includinga reciprocable member connecting said float to saidff'valves `for 'operating the latter, 'said reciproeable I-membery being -formetl'with spaced shoulders with adjacent recesses`,and a weighted arm provided with a pin engageable with said shoulders and recesses'for arl resting vand`,locking said reciprocable merrilber.`

3. `In a steam trap, a tank provided' with a condensate inlet' and outlet, valved'steam inlet'and outlet pipes, afloat in said 4tank responsive to the rise Vand fall of the-condensate accumulated therein, means includ'- ing a member reciprocable longitudinally of said tank and connecting said float to said valves 'for operating `the latter, powerffwcumulating means for reciprocating said recipi'ocable member, and a gravity latch engageable with said reciprocable memberfor arresting and locking the same. 4:. In a steam trap, a tank provided with a condensate inlet and outlet, valved` steam inlet and vent pipes, a float responsive to the rise and fall of the condensatein said tank, a reciprocable member, a sleeve slidable on said member, means connecting said sleeve to said float for reciprocating the former, power accumulating springs resisting the movement of said sleeve, means connecting saidreciprocable member tofsaid valves' for operating the latter, and a latch mechanism for arresting and locking said reciprocable member in its positions ofrest. i "i 5. In a steam'trap, a tank provided'with a condensate inlet and outlet, valved steam inlet and outlet pipes, responsive to the riseand fall ofthe condensate accumulated therein, means including a member mounted exteriorly of said tankand reeiprocable longitudinally thereof ior'connecting said float to said valves and for operating the lat-ter, and gravity actuated means engageable in recesses formed in said reciprocablemember for arresting and locking the latter in its` positionsof rest."4 lfntestiinony whereof I affix my signature.

' J MARTIN KNUDSTRUP;

a float in said tank 

